Is it Possible to Predict the Future?

While browsing through a book by Jacques Attali with the same title as this article, I felt a strong desire to try writing on the subject myself, as if my intuition told me that what the author was doing was nothing but an attempt to discover the future through writing.

But before I share my thoughts on the subject with you, let me summarize the author's idea:

• One should only be concerned with predicting his or her future, an exercise that every person must undertake because by doing so, they liberate themselves from the constraints of the world's future.

To explain the idea simply:

• When Individuals predict their future through what will happen to the world, they judge themselves to be part of what will happen to the world. In this way, their existence becomes a mere dedication to a destiny they have accepted, along with those around them.

Perhaps this idea will lead us to a paradox: the fate of the individual versus the fate of society or the fate of humanity versus the fate of nature.

For example, does the end of humanity mean the end of nature? Or does the end of society mean the end of the individual? In a simpler formulation: is the future of society the same as the future of the individual? Is the destiny of the universe and nature the same as the destiny of humanity?

What is the future?

I like to ask this question repeatedly to myself and to any child I meet because its answer can only be imaginative, and filled with creativity.

I believe that the future is an idea. So, if I were to say, for example, the future is "what will happen later", or the future is "tomorrow", all I am doing is projecting the end of the present onto the future.

In a simple sense, the future is a "set of events that will occur later". However, the challenge lies in defining these events, and here lies the philosophical problem in defining the future.

In my view, the future does not exist; it's a "blank page" that fills up the more we live in the present. Does the unborn child have a future? I don't think so. And when a child is born into our world, does it have a future? Theoretically, yes, just by existing in the world, the idea of the future is valid.

When you plant a seed in the ground, does it have a future? Yes, theoretically, as soon as it's in the soil, it has a future. So, what we understand from these examples is that the future begins when the present begins.

This article I am writing now has a future because it is beyond the present. If I didn't write it or didn't start writing it, it couldn't have a future because I didn't practically manifest its idea in the present. Therefore, the future is a "result of an action" or movement in the present. If that's the case, how can we predict what will happen to something we do now?

This question has occupied the thoughts of all civilizations throughout history. While predicting the future has always been within the realm of religious ideology and spiritual philosophies, over time, in our present era, the question of predicting the future is in the hands of mathematicians and economists (...)

How do we know what will happen in the future?

Predicting the future is a "psychological experience" that can evolve into a "spiritual" one, but, in my view, it will never be material. Why? Because the future is not something that can be studied, as I mentioned at the beginning; it's just an idea or a set of ideas that we project onto what will happen later based on what has occurred in the past and is happening now.

However, this is not enough. For example, the birth of a child into a conservative family might suggest the idea that the child's future is to become a morally upright person, but that's not necessarily the case.

Moreover, if we view it from a cultural perspective, supporters of a certain religious movement, following their ancient heritage, might envision a future for the world in line with their beliefs. But will it unfold as stated in their heritage or writings? I don't think so, and why? Because the future is "relative"; it requires "ongoing actions" in the present.

Actions like "raising a child" in a way that truly makes him morally upright or adherents of a religious movement continuing to follow what is mentioned in their heritage throughout their "ongoing present" to achieve the desired future. Therefore, predicting the future calls for taking certain actions in the continuous present.

What does this mean? Simply put, it means that we determine our future as we want it and then work to achieve it ourselves. The future is not independent of us; it can only be realized if we contribute to reaching it.

What can we conclude from this analysis?

In my view, the future is humanity's hope. The concept of the future must exist for us to live and persist on this planet. It is the challenge that every individual faces, irrespective of their cultural or ideological affiliation. Furthermore, there are various types of futures, such as the "daily future", the "yearly future", the "future of generations", and perhaps I would add the "future of cultures and civilizations". Beyond the scope of humanity and its culture, there is also the "future of all beings" that coexist with us on the planet and beyond.

Additionally, I believe that predicting the future can be beneficial for identifying strengths and weaknesses in the "ongoing present". However, it should not serve to create conflict between religions and civilizations worldwide (...)

A last word!

How do you think the year 2024 will be? Take a moment to consider, especially after reading today's article. If you want, share your thoughts in the comments. Also, let me know what you think about the future in general.

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